Is Licorice Root Tea Good for Gas?

Partly: if mild gas comes with abdominal discomfort, licorice root tea may feel comforting because it is warm, but it is not proven to reduce gas.

Licorice root tea is an herbal drink with safety considerations, especially for people with high blood pressure or certain other conditions. If you choose to try it, keep expectations modest and check the cautions below first.

Can licorice root tea help with gas?

Licorice root tea might be pleasant when occasional gas leaves you feeling uncomfortable. Any relief, however, may come from the comfort of a warm drink rather than a demonstrated effect of licorice root on gas.

Gas and bloating can change over time, so feeling better after a cup does not necessarily mean the tea caused the improvement. The tea also cannot tell you why the discomfort occurred.

For other options, see the best drinks for gas. If gas is persistent, unusually painful or accompanied by concerning symptoms, seek medical advice rather than relying on a drink.

How might licorice root tea affect gas?

Gas can come from swallowed air or from the breakdown of food by bacteria in the gut. A feeling of bloating does not always mean that the body has produced an unusually large amount of gas.

Warmth may make a person feel more comfortable, but no specific mechanism has been established by which licorice root tea reduces gas. There is no reliable basis for saying that it removes trapped gas or speeds digestion.

Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, a compound associated with some of its safety risks. It has not been established as a gas-relieving ingredient in licorice root tea. The taste or strength of a tea is not a dependable way to judge how much glycyrrhizin it contains.

What does the evidence say?

We found no clinical studies of licorice root and gas. That leaves the effectiveness of licorice root tea for gas unknown, rather than established or disproved.

There is also no evidence-based way to say whether the tea reduces gas production, helps gas pass or improves bloating. A personal improvement after drinking it cannot distinguish an effect of the tea from a symptom that would have settled anyway.

Evidence about a concentrated extract or another licorice root product would not automatically establish what a brewed tea does. Preparations can differ, and there is no established therapeutic amount or brewing time for gas. Do not treat a product label’s suggested serving as proof that the tea is effective for this purpose.

How should you use licorice root tea?

If you are an adult without the risk factors below and want to try licorice root tea, prepare a single serving according to the package directions. Let it cool to a comfortable drinking temperature. A labeled serving is not a guarantee of safety or a proven dose for gas.

Choose a product whose ingredient list you can check, especially if you are sensitive to added ingredients. Avoid assuming that a stronger brew or more frequent servings will work better; neither approach has been shown to relieve gas.

Notice whether your discomfort improves, stays the same or gets worse. If the tea makes you feel worse, stop drinking it. Because there is no established safe regimen for treating gas, avoid daily or prolonged use and ask a clinician before using it repeatedly.

Who should be careful with licorice root tea?

Glycyrrhizin in licorice root can raise blood pressure, lower potassium and cause fluid retention or abnormal heart rhythms. The amount can vary between products. People with high blood pressure, low potassium, or heart or kidney disease should avoid licorice root tea unless a clinician says it is appropriate.

Check with a doctor or pharmacist before using it if you take diuretics, corticosteroids, digoxin or medicines for high blood pressure. Licorice root can interact with these medicines or increase the risk of adverse effects. Do not stop a prescribed medicine to drink the tea.

Avoid licorice root tea during pregnancy. Because safety information is limited, people who are breastfeeding should avoid it, and it should not be given to children without advice from their clinician.

Stop drinking licorice root tea and contact a clinician promptly if you develop swelling, muscle weakness or palpitations. Seek emergency care for chest pain, fainting or severe palpitations.

Seek urgent care for sudden or severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, blood in the stool, or a swollen abdomen with an inability to pass gas or stool. See a clinician if gas persists, disrupts daily life, or comes with unexplained weight loss or a change in bowel habits.